Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi Cost of Living Comparison Between Quetta and Rawalpindi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $420 per month in Quetta vs $495 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A couple spends around $617 per month in Quetta vs $781 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

A family of three spends $814 per month in Quetta vs $1,067 in Rawalpindi, rent included.

Quetta is about 15% cheaper than Rawalpindi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Quetta and Rawalpindi are more affordable than the global median – Quetta 69% lower, Rawalpindi 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.70 PKR 1,026

$2.05 PKR 569

80.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.78 PKR 2,987

$16.07 PKR 4,452

-32.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.53 PKR 1,255

$5.84 PKR 1,617

-22.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 PKR 502

$1.76 PKR 487

2.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.27 PKR 1,460

$3.50 PKR 971

50.57%

Cappuccino

$1.59 PKR 442

$1.98 PKR 549

-19.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 107

$0.44 PKR 121

-11.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 PKR 54.4

$0.25 PKR 69.4

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.69 PKR 192

$0.91 PKR 251

-24.18%

White Bread (500g)

$0.56 PKR 155

$0.54 PKR 151

3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.23 PKR 341

$1.23 PKR 340

Eggs

$1.22 PKR 337

$1.11 PKR 308

9.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.93 PKR 1,366

$6.32 PKR 1,752

-21.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.83 PKR 785

$3.57 PKR 990

-20.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.12 PKR 1,419

$5.05 PKR 1,398

1.39%

Apples (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 258

$1.20 PKR 331

-22.50%

Banana (1kg)

$0.57 PKR 159

$0.84 PKR 232

-32.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.69 PKR 190

$1.22 PKR 338

-43.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 PKR 153

$0.53 PKR 146

3.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.30 PKR 82.0

$0.36 PKR 99.5

-16.67%

Onion (1kg)

$0.56 PKR 156

$0.45 PKR 124

24.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 PKR 118

$0.31 PKR 84.9

38.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 PKR 108

$0.43 PKR 118

-9.30%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.75 PKR 485

$16.09 PKR 4,458

-89.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 PKR 300

$1.14 PKR 316

-5.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 PKR 788

$2.37 PKR 657

19.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.09 PKR 579

$1.93 PKR 535

8.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.13 PKR 36.35

$0.18 PKR 50.5

-27.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.27 PKR 2,845

$9.99 PKR 2,767

2.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.04 PKR 288

$0.93 PKR 258

11.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 PKR 120

$0.35 PKR 96.1

22.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.78 PKR 493

$3.11 PKR 861

-42.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 PKR 296

$1.13 PKR 313

-5.31%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.0K PKR 6.7M

$17.9K PKR 5.0M

34.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.2K PKR 6.7M

$24.1K PKR 6.7M

0.51%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$103 PKR 28.5K

$113 PKR 31.2K

-8.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$8.11 PKR 2,246

$5.55 PKR 1,537

46.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.41 PKR 4,547

$18.88 PKR 5,229

-13.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$5.78 PKR 1,602

$12.11 PKR 3,354

-52.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.81 PKR 1,886

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 PKR 923

$4.26 PKR 1,179

-21.83%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$34.78 PKR 9,635

$48.70 PKR 13.5K

-28.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$995 PKR 275.5K

$833 PKR 230.8K

19.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$8.08 PKR 2,237

$20.41 PKR 5,653

-60.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.81 PKR 6,318

$28.85 PKR 7,993

-20.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.8 PKR 19.6K

$93.7 PKR 26.0K

-24.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.10 PKR 9,446

$36.19 PKR 10.0K

-5.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$71.4 PKR 19.8K

$201 PKR 55.6K

-64.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$49.66 PKR 13.8K

$83.0 PKR 23.0K

-40.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$165 PKR 45.8K

$428 PKR 118.6K

-61.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$99.5 PKR 27.6K

$226 PKR 62.6K

-55.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$376 PKR 104.3K

$1,170 PKR 324.1K

-67.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$219 PKR 60.6K

$507 PKR 140.5K

-56.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 PKR 75.9K

$173 PKR 48.0K

57.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.88

22.81

-43.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Quetta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Rawalpindi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $71.4 in Quetta versus $201 in Rawalpindi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 58% higher in Quetta, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta versus $16.00 in Rawalpindi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $89.0 vs $103 – making Quetta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Quetta vs Rawalpindi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rawalpindi is pricier by about 18%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $630 per month in Quetta and $742 in Rawalpindi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Quetta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Rawalpindi, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Quetta and $16.00 in Rawalpindi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $420 in Quetta and $495 in Rawalpindi, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Quetta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Quetta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rawalpindi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.